Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian (USEF) is pleased to announce the winners of two prestigious awards in the discipline of endurance. Cheryl Van Deusen has been awarded the Maggy Price Endurance Excellence Award, and Alex Shampoe has been awarded the Brunjes Junior/Young Rider Trophy. The Maggy Price Endurance Excellence Award is presented to the top U.S. senior endurance rider. This award is sponsored by Gold Medal Farm and Larry and Valerie Kanavy, in memory of Maggy Price. Price was the 1992...

When fellow equestrians and Paso Fino enthusiasts first suggested that Heidi Young consider riding with a drill team, Young demurred. “I had bought myself a very good-looking Paso Fino, and they said, ‘You should try this, because it’s fun, and your horse would look great,’” recalled Young, a Connecticut native and US Equestrian member who now resides in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho. “I said, ‘Oh, no, I don’t do that kind of thing. I don’t like...

Nicole Aden, Sound Prospect, and Allie Knowles at the 2017 Pau CCI4* (Courtesy of Nicole Aden) Grooms are a vital part of any competition barn. While grooms often are behind the scenes or alongside the ring, some of them also compete themselves. Nicole Aden, Meg Kepferle, and Andi Lawrence are three current or former eventing grooms who have found their own success in national and FEI eventing competitions. A few weeks ago, all three finished in the top 16 in the competitive CIC2* A division at...

Harrisburg, Pa. - Moving up the ranks through all three rounds of the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final, 17-year-old Brian Moggre (Flower Mount, Texas) answered all the questions judges Geoff Teall and Robin Rost Brown asked, awarding him first place and the gold medal for his spectacular performance. Brian Moggre receives his awards as the 2018 Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal champion (© Al Cook - alcookphoto.com) After a year of qualifying, 238 riders started their quest...

North Salem, N.Y. - During the 2017 Adequan®/FEI North American Youth Championships presented by Gotham North (NAYC), Region 4’s Tillie Jones and Apachi, the 13-year-old KWPN gelding she owns with her mom Tish Jones, overcame pre-competition adversity to win the 2017 United States Dressage Federation (USDF) North American Junior Rider Dressage Freestyle Championship. In addition, they anchored the Region 4 team to a bronze medal finish. They return this year as members of the Region...

Lexington, Ky. - The stage is set for the 2017 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm to begin at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. From August 8-13, over 600 ponies from across the country will compete with their youth riders in hunter, jumper, and equitation classes. The live stream on the USEF Network will cover all of the competition from the Walnut and Alltech Arenas. View the streaming schedule . This year marks the 50th anniversary of the prestigious competition. A...

Derek di Grazia’s courses are known for being challenging but fair and safe. (Mike McNally Photo) Derek di Grazia knows what it’s like to ride—and win—the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover: he won it in 1985 on Sasquatch, a Thoroughbred/Appaloosa cross. These days, as the Rolex Kentucky event’s cross-country course designer, di Grazia is the man asking the questions of the four-star horses and riders galloping over the Kentucky Horse...

Matthias Hollberg and Czechmate (Lauren Baker/Phelps Media Group) Littlestown, Pa. - After getting the ride on Czechmate just six short weeks ago, Matthias Hollberg and the chestnut gelding showcased their winning ways in Saturday's $25,000 Quentin Fall Classic Grand Prix, marking their second grand prix victory together. Hollberg also claimed the second-place spot aboard another mount, his own Aletta. "I didn't wake up this morning thinking this would happen, but I was certainly...

Todd Minikus and Quality Girl won the $35,000 Welcome Speed CSI3* to kick-off the Kentucky Spring Classic. (Taylor Renner/Phelps Media Group) Lexington, Ky. - Speed was the name of the game Wednesday afternoon as the Kentucky Spring Classic kicked off with the $35,000 Welcome Speed CSI3* in the Rolex Stadium with Todd Minikus (USA) and Quality Girl, owned by the Quality Group, racing around the speed course in a time of 65.530 seconds to take the top prize. Thirty-six horse and rider...

Mikala Gundersen (DEN) and My Lady, winners of the 2015 FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 4* at AGDF. (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, Fla. - The Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) welcomes back international competition this week to Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) as the facility prepares to host the AGDF 10 CDI 4* presented by Havensafe Farm, CDI 3* presented by The Dutta Corporation, and CDI 1* presented by Mike & Roz Collins. The 2016 Florida International Youth...